Addendum from our Chairman:- “No mention of my bowling”, which to be fair was overlooked by this correspondent. Ed Weale bowled 6 overs for 10 runs and 1 wicket. As already mentioned the game was over at this stage and the batting was not up to it, but every dog has his day! Mark C
Our opposition was a new side that meets up once a year to play a game together having resulted from the disbandment of a club near Chippenham. One member of the opposition coming from Cheshire to play in the game.
It was agreed that we would bat due to the absence of 11th man, Mark Cadbury, who was at lunch with friends.
Adam and Julian opened up the innings with some variable bowling, the second bowler having a bit of a nightmare and conceded 27 off the over, with Adam being merciless in his approach to hitting fours through the offside off full tosses. Oddly enough the New Georgians decided not to have a mid-off which Adam enjoyed immensely. Although he fell on 26 to a classic Babington wicket, playing it too early and scooping it up to cover point.
The weather has not been brilliant with one day of sun and the next rain throughout the week, so the track was slow. Julian in his unique style, mowing the ball through the leg-side, played one about 10 seconds too early. He said it was like watching a slow motion accident – his bat swinging through the air, then the ball arriving and then hitting the stumps, out for 7.
Matt Ellis was in at three, and felt somehow that he was his duty to show the classic dismissal once again, scooping the ball to cover, out for 10. Andrew Cooper was joined by Chester Ellis and they proceeded to play well together putting on a 50 run wicket partnership, with Andrew playing the Babington wicket rather well, late off the back foot. Chester was going along very nicely, hitting the ball crisply. We were going along at about 5 or 6 an over. Chester was joined by Jack Cadbury, who scored 28 in another 50 run partnership and Harry Cadbury scoring 22 in just short of 50 for the 6th wicket.
Mark Cadbury was enjoying lunch too much (a rather good Cote du Rhone or three), and was still not at the ground. However, there were three wickets in hand with 4 overs to go, so it was thought he would not be needed at No.11. How wrong can one call the Babington late order collapse? Ed Weale out for 1, Gareth Williams out for 3 and Paul Jeavons out for 0, leaving poor Chester stranded on 81 with 7 balls to spare. Mark Cadbury nonchalantly turned up for tea, having not helped at all. Babington had scored 216 in 33.5 overs, at just over 6 an over. Last week we thought 180 was a good score, this was a very decent total.
A delicious tea, which I can attest to, having had a three-course lunch, but I was going to get my match fee money’s worth.
We all have huge sympathy for Gareth, Mark Meadows/Williams’ brother, who said at the end of the match – “I used to bowl 85 plus miles an hour, but now I just bowl 45 mile an hour wides”. It’s not easy when you get older to do the things you used to do, and I’m afraid that I have rather resigned myself to that fact already!
Paul Jeavons bowled from the Jolliffe end, and from the first ball was accuracy personified, the pace was gentle, but on these early season pitches it was just the ticket. Paul bowled 6 overs on the trot for 21.
Andrew Cooper replaced Gareth at the Justin Smellie end and was immediately into his stride. To quote the classic cliché, I think that Andrew would happily roll up this wicket and take it with him wherever he bowls. Andrew turns the ball, flights the ball and had the batsman bamboozled (he’s playing against us next week for All Hallows – so beware). His figures of 4 overs, the first being a double wicket maiden, followed by a maiden, were 4 overs 3 wickets for 3 runs. Yikes! I defy anyone to better those bowling stats this season.
Although they were not the best side we will come up against, Ed Weale took a catch at gully off Andrew, and was so chuffed he started doing a lap of honour. Unfortunately, your correspondent didn’t see as he was obscured by the umpire, when the batsman edged it, I thought it had gone for at least 2 runs, but Ed held onto what he described as a screamer!
What has to be a rare item, was Harry Cadbury dropping a ball at cover. His hands were about 6 inches off the ball as it hit him in the chest. He just didn’t see it for the trees. His brother, Jack, sympathetically roaring with laughter.
Matt Ellis, fresh from a winter bowling in the nets came on the replace Andrew, who surely would have 5-for, if he had stayed on, however Adam was giving them a chance – or was he? Matt turned the ball a long way, lobbed up the odd one and was looking pretty good, with the luckless Gareth dropping one at mid-off of Matt, splitting his nail and cursing his lack of positivity and worrying about his piano playing – much more important than a catch. Matt’s fourth over was giving the batsman nightmares and with the ball turning and flight deceiving – the result was two stumpings in the over from the swift and precise keeping of Adam. It was glorious bowling.
By now the New Georgians (whatever happened to the old ones?) were 82 for 6 off 23 overs, needing over 11 an over. Julian and Chester bowled nicely, with the deceptively straight one from Julian resulting in 2 wickets, with Chester getting one wicket to conclude an excellent day for the Ellises.
The final score was 133 off 35 overs and another victory for Babington.
Man of the match – Chester Ellis
Champagne Moment – Matt Ellis’s two stumpings in one over.
All Hallows next week…